Structural analysis of whey representation between rural and urban populations in western Mexico.

Whey is a by-product derived from cheese making. Despite being rich in nutrients, it is little used, it even represents a problem form the environment in Mexico. In this sense, it is important to know the meanings that are associated with this term, especially when it is intended to develop new products from this by-product. The objective of this work was to analyze the representation of the term whey in rural and urban populations through the Central core Theory. Additionally, the relationship between gender-place of residence with the evoked word is explored. Therefore, three hundred and sixty people (from rural and urban areas) were interviewed face to face in two areas in the western region of Mexico. Word association test was carried out, using "whey" as stimulus; the associated words were ordered according to their importance; the polarity index of each associated word was evaluated. The most frequently mentioned words were analyzed based on their frequency of mention and average importance to identify the conceptual structure of the concept representation. The results show and influence of the place of residence on the conceptual structure. Rural participants tend to generate more words with negative connotations, while the central elements of urban consumers are mainly related to dairy products. When comparing consumers by gender, rural and urban women associate "whey" with aspects of both the production process and dairy products. In the case of men, those from the urban zone, relate to aspects related to nutrition, dairy products and nutrients. In contrast, men from the rural area relate whey mainly to negative aspects such as pollution. The study confirms that there is a link between the place of residence and the conformation of the conceptual structure, where the gender-region relationship influences the definition of the term "whey".

Preparación de un Adhesivo Sensible a la Presión (PSA) con la Incorporación de Nanopartículas de ZnO. Estudio de sus Propiedades Fisicoquímicas y Antimicrobianas / Preparation of a Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) with the ZnO Nanoparticles Incorporation. Study of its Physicochemical and Antimicrobial Properties

Resumen Se describe el proceso para obtener un adhesivo sensible a la presión (PSA). Este PSA está formado por un copolímero de acrilato de 2-etilhexil (2-EHA) / metacrilato de metilo (MMA) en una relación 80:20 que se polimerizó mediante una técnica de polimerización en emulsión. Se añadieron nanopartículas de óxido de zinc (NPZnO) a este copolímero, que se sintetizaron previamente y se modificaron superficialmente con 3-aminopropil-3-toxisilano (APTES) y dimetilsulfóxido (DMSO) para mejorar su dispersión en la matriz de copolímero. Los nanocompuestos obtenidos se caracterizaron por espectroscopía infrarroja (FTIR), calorimetría diferencial de barrido (DSC) y pruebas de adhesión al delaminado. Además, se determinó la actividad antimicrobiana contra S. aureus y S. pyogenes, así como la citotoxicidad en células humanas (HeLa). Los resultados demostraron que la adición de las nanopartículas de NPZnO al copolímero incrementa la temperatura de transición vítrea (Tg) así como las propiedades antimicrobianas del adhesivo mejorando a su vez su adhesión superficial. Con respecto al comportamiento adhesivo, el PSA con NPZnO sin modificar mostró una mayor resistencia al delaminado, esto quiere decir que las nanopartículas incrementan la fuerza cohesiva y proporcionan resistencia a temperaturas elevadas, lo cual sería beneficioso a su aplicación final. Finalmente, los resultados de citotoxicidad mostraron que la incorporación de NPZnO al PSA disminuye la viabilidad celular, sin embargo no se considera tóxico acorde a la norma ISO 10993 test for in vitro cytotoxicity.

Abstract The process for obtaining a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) is described. This PSA is formed by an acrylate copolymer of 2-ethylhexyl (2-EHA) / methyl methacrylate (MMA) in an 80:20 ratio which was polymerized by emulsion polymerization technique. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (NPZnO) were added to this copolymer, which were previously synthesized, and surface modified with 3-aminopropyltretoxysilane (APTES) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to improve its dispersion in the copolymer matrix. The obtained nanocomposites were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and T-peel adhesion tests. In addition, the antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and S. pyogenes as well as the cytotoxicity in human cells (HeLa) were determined. The results demonstrated that the ZnO nanoparticles incorporation enhanced the glass transition temperature (Tg) and the antimicrobial activity of PSA copolymer as well as its surface adhesion. It was confirmed that NPZnO modification with APTES increased its antimicrobial activity. Regarding adhesive behavior, PSA with unmodified NPZnO showed a greater peel resistance. This indicates that these nanoparticles enhances the cohesive force and induces a better high temperature performance, which is beneficial for the final application. Finally, cytotoxicity results showed that the incorporation of NPZnO to PSA decreases the cell viability, however this PSA is not toxic according to the standard ISO 10993 test for in vitro cytotoxicity.

Effects of different surface modifying agents on the cytotoxic and antimicrobial properties of ZnO nanoparticles.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) have received considerable attention in the medical field because of their antibacterial properties, primarily for killing and reducing the activity of numerous microorganisms. The purpose of this study was to determine whether surface-modified ZnO NPs exhibit different properties compared with unmodified ZnO. The antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties of modified ZnO NPs as well as their effects on inflammatory cytokine production were evaluated. ZnO NPs were prepared using a wet chemical method. Then, the surfaces of these NPs were modified using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as modifying agents via a chemical hydrolysis method. According to infrared spectroscopy analysis (FTIR), the structure of the ZnO remained unchanged after modification. Antibacterial assays demonstrated that APTES modification is more effective at inducing an antimicrobial effect against Gram-negative bacteria than against Gram-positive bacteria. Cytotoxicity studies showed that cell viability was dose-dependent; moreover, pristine and APTES-modified ZnO exhibited low cytotoxicity, whereas DMSO-modified ZnO exhibited toxicity even at a low NP concentration. An investigation of inflammatory cytokine production demonstrated that the extent of stimulation was related to the ZnO NP concentration but not to the surface modification, except for IFN-γ and IL-10, which were not detected even at high NP concentrations.

Animal Models for Medication Development and Application to Treat Fetal Alcohol Effects.

Ethanol consumption during pregnancy can have lifelong consequences for the offspring, their family and society. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) include a range of physical and behavioral effects with the most significant impact occurring as a result of the effects of ethanol on the developing central nervous system (CNS). To date, there are no FDA approved drugs that have been tested that prevent/reduce or specifically treat the symptoms of FASD. There are several promising lines of research from rodent models aimed at reducing the neurotoxic effects of ethanol on the developing CNS or in treating the resulting behavioral impairments but these have not yet moved to clinical testing. The current review discusses some of the most promising targets for intervention and provides a review of the past and ongoing efforts to develop and screen pharmacological treatments for reducing the effects of prenatal ethanol exposure.

An apparatus for spatially resolved, temperature dependent reflectance measurements for identifying thermochromism in combinatorial thin film libraries.

A metrology and data analysis protocol is described for high throughput determination of thermochromic metal-insulator phase diagrams for lightly substituted VO2 thin films. The technique exploits the abrupt change in near infrared optical properties, measured in reflection, as an indicator of the temperature- or impurity-driven metal-insulator transition. Transition metal impurities were introduced in a complementary combinatorial synthesis process for producing thin film libraries with the general composition space V(1-x-y)M(x)M'(y)O2, with M and M' being transition metals and x and y varying continuously across the library. The measurement apparatus acquires reflectance spectra in the visible or near infrared at arbitrarily many library locations, each with a unique film composition, at temperatures of 1 °C-85 °C. Data collection is rapid and automated; the measurement protocol is computer controlled to automate the collection of thousands of reflectance spectra, representing hundreds of film compositions at tens of different temperatures. A straightforward analysis algorithm is implemented to extract key information from the thousands of spectra such as near infrared thermochromic transition temperatures and regions of no thermochromic transition; similarly, reflectance to the visible spectrum generates key information for materials selection of smart window materials. The thermochromic transition for 160 unique compositions on a thin film library with the general formula V(1-x-y)M(x)M'(y)O2 can be measured and described in a single 20 h experiment. The resulting impurity composition-temperature phase diagrams will contribute to the understanding of metal-insulator transitions in doped VO2 systems and to the development of thermochromic smart windows.

High-throughput measurements of thermochromic behavior in V(1-x)Nb(x)O(2) combinatorial thin film libraries.

We describe a high-throughput characterization of near-infrared thermochromism in V1-xNbxO2 combinatorial thin film libraries. The oxide thin film library was prepared with a VO2 crystal structure and a continuous gradient in composition with Nb concentrations in the range of less than 1% to 45%. The thermochromic phase transition from monoclinic to tetragonal was characterized by the accompanying change in near-infrared reflectance. With increasing Nb substitution, the transition temperature was depressed from 65 to 35 °C, as desirable for smart window applications. However, the magnitude of the reflectance change across the thermochromic transition was also reduced with increasing Nb film content. Data collection, handling, and analysis supporting thermochromic characterization were fully automated to achieve high throughput. Using this system, in 14 h, temperature-dependent infrared reflectances were measured at 165 arbitrary locations on a thin film combinatorial library; these measurements were analyzed for thermochromic transitions in minutes.

Pre-diabetes in adults 45 years and over in Ireland: the Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition in Ireland 2007.

OBJECTIVES: Pre-diabetes is an important indicator of future diabetes burden and many countries are reporting prevalence estimates of pre-diabetes. To date in Ireland, estimates of the prevalence of pre-diabetes were unavailable. Our objectives were to estimate the prevalence of pre-diabetes in a nationally representative sample of Irish adults and to explore determinants of pre-diabetes. METHODS: The Survey of Lifestyle Attitudes and Nutrition 2007 was a cross-sectional survey on health and lifestyle in a nationally representative sample of Irish adults. Analysis was performed on a subsample of 1132 participants ≥ 45 years who provided blood samples. Determination of pre-diabetes was based on American Diabetes Association HbA1c cut points of 39-46 mmol/mol (5.7-6.4%). To explore determinants, we modelled pre-diabetes prevalence as a function of a set of health system and socio-demographic variables using logistic regression. RESULTS: The overall weighted prevalence estimate of pre-diabetes in participants ≥ 45 years was 19.8% (95% CI 16.4-23.9). There was no significant difference between age or gender-specific prevalence rates. Obesity was significantly associated with pre-diabetes on univariate and multivariate analysis. Population attributable fraction estimates for excess BMI, physical inactivity and poor diet as causes of pre-diabetes were 31.3% (95% CI -3.9 to 54.5), 10.0% (95% CI -2.7 to 21.3) and 6.1% (95% CI -4.9 to 15.9), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The high levels of pre-diabetes detected in this study are worrying. Population level interventions to address diet and lifestyle factors are needed urgently to prevent progression to diabetes in high-risk individuals.

Investigation and management of an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium DT8 associated with duck eggs, Ireland 2009 to 2011.

Salmonella Typhimurium DT8 was a very rare cause of human illness in Ireland between 2000 and 2008, with only four human isolates from three patients being identified. Over a 19-month period between August 2009 and February 2011, 34 confirmed cases and one probable case of Salmonella Typhimurium DT8 were detected, all of which had an MLVA pattern 2-10-NA-12-212 or a closely related pattern. The epidemiological investigations strongly supported a linkbetween illness and exposure to duck eggs. Moreover, S. Typhimurium with an MLVA pattern indistinguishable (or closely related) to the isolates from human cases, was identified in 22 commercial and backyard duck flocks, twelve of which were linked with known human cases. A range of control measures were taken at farm level, and advice was provided to consumers on the hygienic handling and cooking of duck eggs. Although no definitive link was established with a concurrent duck egg-related outbreak of S. Typhimurium DT8 in the United Kingdom, it seems likely that the two events were related. It may be appropriate for other countries with a tradition of consuming duck eggs to consider the need for measures to reduce the risk of similar outbreaks.

Behavioral deficits and cellular damage following developmental ethanol exposure in rats are attenuated by CP-101,606, an NMDAR antagonist with unique NR2B specificity.

NMDAR-mediated excitotoxicity has been implicated in some of the impairments following fetal ethanol exposure. Previous studies suggest that both neuronal cell death and some of the behavioral deficits can be reduced by NMDAR antagonism during withdrawal, including antagonism of a subpopulation of receptors containing NR2B subunits. To further investigate NR2B involvement, we selected a compound, CP-101,606 (CP) which binds selectively to NR2B/2B stoichiometries, for both in vitro and in vivo analyses. For the in vitro study, hippocampal explants were exposed to ethanol for 10 days and then 24 h following removal of ethanol, cellular damage was quantified via propidium iodide fluorescence. In vitro ethanol withdrawal-associated neurotoxicity was prevented by CP (10 and 25 nM). In vivo ethanol exposure was administered on PNDs 1-7 with CP administered 21 h following cessation. Activity (PNDs 20-21), motor skills (PNDs 31-33), and maze navigation (PNDs 43-44) were all susceptible to ethanol insult; treatment with CP (15 mg/kg) rescued these deficits. Our findings show that CP-101,606, a drug that blocks the NR2B/2B receptor, can reduce some of the damaging effects of "3rd trimester" alcohol exposure in our rodent model. Further work is clearly warranted on the neuroprotective potential of this drug in the developing brain.

Lobeline attenuates neonatal ethanol-mediated changes in hyperactivity and dopamine transporter function in the prefrontal cortex in rats.

Current therapies for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have varying efficacy in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), suggesting that alternative therapeutics are needed. Developmental exposure to ethanol produces changes in dopamine (DA) systems, and DA has also been implicated in ADHD pathology. In the current study, lobeline, which interacts with proteins in dopaminergic presynaptic terminals, was evaluated for its ability to attenuate neonatal ethanol-induced locomotor hyperactivity and alterations in dopamine transporter (DAT) function in striatum and prefrontal cortex (PFC). From postnatal days (PND) 1-7, male and female rat pups were intubated twice daily with either 3 g/kg ethanol or milk, or were not intubated (non-intubated control) as a model for "third trimester" ethanol exposure. On PND 21 and 22, pups received acute lobeline (0, 0.3, 1, or 3 mg/kg), and locomotor activity was assessed. On PND 23-25, pups again received an acute injection of lobeline (1 or 3 mg/kg), and DAT kinetic parameters (Km and V(max)) were determined. Results demonstrated that neonatal ethanol produced locomotor hyperactivity on PND 21 that was reversed by lobeline (1 and 3 mg/kg). Although striatal DAT function was not altered by neonatal ethanol or acute lobeline, neonatal ethanol exposure increased the V(max) for DAT in the PFC, suggesting an increase in DAT function in PFC. Lobeline ameliorated this effect on PFC V(max) at the same doses that decreased hyperactivity. Methylphenidate, the gold standard therapeutic for ADHD, was also evaluated for comparison with lobeline. Methylphenidate decreased DAT V(max) and Km in PFC from ethanol-treated pups. Thus, lobeline and methylphenidate differentially altered DAT function following neonatal ethanol exposure. Collectively, these findings provide support that lobeline may be a useful pharmacotherapy for some of the deficits associated with neonatal ethanol exposure.

Setting standards in homeopathic practice--a pre-audit exploring motivation and expectation for patients attending the Bristol Homeopathic Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To set a standard of routine goal setting with patients within their package of care at the Bristol Homeopathic Hospital. We hope goal setting will improve communication with our patients and health professional colleagues, focus outcome and improve targeting of problems. We therefore explored motivation for and expectation of hospital attendance from a patient perspective. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Questionnaire based pre-audit survey. The questionnaire was administered to 110 consecutive patients attending outpatients and 20 parents of children attending with asthma and eczema to gain understanding of motivation and expectation and more specific information for two of the commonest conditions. RESULTS: Seventy percent of patients had used some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), 35% had used homeopathy and only 10% had specialist homeopathic care, the majority of use being over the counter. The majority of patients had been encouraged by their General Practitioners, themselves and by word of mouth with family and friends. Few patients cited the media as a major influence. "Pull" factors such as "treating the whole person" were given greater emphasis except for parents of children with asthma and eczema for whom "push" factors such as fear of steroid side effects predominated. In the main patient expectations were reasonable with the majority hoping to see improvements in their conditions. A fifth of patients hoped to reduce conventional medications. CONCLUSIONS: Patients had used CAM in general but not homeopathy in particular. Encouragement from doctors, self motivation and word of mouth most motivated patients to come and might suggest more direct communication with General Practitioners would be worthwhile. Being treated as a whole person was the most significant motivating factor, with a significant number of patients wishing to reduce medication. Goal setting and direct communication with other healthcare professionals is essential for safety, to focus outcome, and to value the role of homeopathy in a patient's healthcare. As a result we have set a standard whereby treatment goals are agreed with patients and communicated to referring health care professionals at each outpatient visit. This could be audited.

Agmatine reduces balance deficits in a rat model of third trimester binge-like ethanol exposure.

This study examined the effects of binge-like ethanol (ETOH) exposure in neonatal rats on a cerebellar-mediated balance task, and the ability of agmatine, an n-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) modulator, to reverse such effects. Five neonatal treatments groups were used, including ETOH (6.0 g/kg/day), AG (20 mg/kg), ETOH plus AG (6.0 g/kg/day and 20 mg/kg), a maltose control, and a non-treated control. Ethanol was administered via oral intubation twice daily for eight days, (AG was administered with the last ETOH intubation only). Two exposure periods were used; PND 1-8 or PND 8-15. On PND 31-33, balance performance on a single dowel was tested. Treatment with AG during withdrawal in ETOH exposed animals improved performance relative to ETOH alone among the PND 1-8 exposure period. ETOH exposure during the 2nd postnatal week did not impair balance. These findings provide further support that exposure to ETOH during critical developmental periods can impair performance on a cerebellar-dependent balance task. Of perhaps greater significance, co-administration of agmatine reduced these deficits suggesting that NMDA modulation via polyamine blockade may provide a novel approach to attenuating damage associated with binge-like ETOH consumption.

Adult persons with intellectual disabilities on the island of Ireland.

BACKGROUND: Information on the numbers of adult persons (aged 20 years and over) with intellectual disability (ID) is rarely collated at a national level. This is an impediment to service planning especially for a changing population. METHODS: A database of all persons in receipt of ID services has been operating in the Republic of Ireland since 1995. In Northern Ireland, regional databases can be used to provide similar information. RESULTS: A total of 25,134 persons were known to services in 2002; an overall prevalence for the island of 6.34 per 1,000. However this rate varied for different age groupings and across the two parts of the island. General population characteristics, as well as service factors, appear to account for this. Significantly more people lived with family carers in Northern Ireland. By 2021, it was estimated that the population would increase by over 20% with around one-third of persons aged over 50 years. CONCLUSIONS: These data illustrate the variations that exist in the numbers of adult persons with ID known to services across and within regions of a country. Hence caution must be exercised in extrapolating prevalence rates derived in one area to another. The availability of comparative national data highlights issues around the equitable funding and delivery of services.

Homeopathic treatment for chronic disease: a 6-year, university-hospital outpatient observational study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess health changes seen in routine homeopathic care for patients with a wide range of chronic conditions who were referred to a hospital outpatient department. DESIGN: This was an observational study of 6544 consecutive follow-up patients during a 6-year period. SETTING: Hospital outpatient unit within an acute National Health Service (NHS) Teaching Trust in the United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS: Every patient attending the hospital outpatient unit for a follow-up appointment over the study period was included, commencing with their first follow-up attendance. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Outcomes were based on scores on a 7-point Likert-type scale at the end of the consultation and were assessed as overall outcomes compared to the initial baseline assessments. RESULTS: A total of 6544 consecutive follow-up patients were given outcome scores. Of the patients 70.7% (n = 4627) reported positive health changes, with 50.7% (n = 3318) recording their improvement as better (+2) or much better (+3). CONCLUSIONS: Homeopathic intervention offered positive health changes to a substantial proportion of a large cohort of patients with a wide range of chronic diseases. Additional observational research, including studies using different designs, is necessary for further research development in homeopathy.

A preliminary audit investigating remedy reactions including adverse events in routine homeopathic practice.

UNLABELLED: Homeopathic medicines are regarded as safe but practitioners report several types of healing or remedy reactions including aggravations, new symptoms and recurrence of old symptoms, some of which could be regarded as side effects or unwanted effects. Some remedy reactions may be regarded as adverse events. AUDIT QUESTIONS: Do such reactions occur within our unit, and if so, how frequently? Do patients regard these events as "adverse"? METHODS: The audit was carried out in the Bristol Homeopathic Hospital Outpatient Department. All patients were given a questionnaire to complete when at their first follow-up consultation approx 6-10 weeks after their first appointment. One hundred and sixteen patients were sampled over a 2-month period. RESULTS: Reactions were frequent: 28 out of the 116 (24%) patients, experienced an aggravation. Thirteen patients (11%) reported an adverse event even though 5 of those were patients who also reported an aggravation followed by an overall improvement of their symptoms. Thirty-one patients described new symptoms (27%) and 21(18%), a return of old symptoms. Those experiencing the latter appeared to have better outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Remedy reactions are common in clinical practice; some patients experience them as adverse events. Systematically recording side effects would facilitate our understanding of these reactions and would enable standards to be set for audit of information and patient care.

Towards an acceptance of performance assessment.

The utility of any assessment tool critically depends on its level of acceptance by those on whom the assessment impacts. Performance assessment impacts on three distinct groups: patients/consumers, doctors and employers. While these groups may have conflicting beliefs and expectations of performance assessment, the process must be made acceptable to all. This can happen through an exploration of the beliefs and wishes of the key stakeholders in relation to performance assessment, together with the potential rewards and costs. This paper draws on the psychology literature in describing an effective model for change management. It outlines some strategies for each of the three key elements of any successful strategy for change, i.e. getting started, facilitating the transition and ensuring consolidation. Such a practical approach will foster the acceptance of performance assessment structures among all stakeholders.

Oligodendroglial expression of Edg-2 receptor: developmental analysis and pharmacological responses to lysophosphatidic acid.

Edg-2 is a member of the G-protein-coupled seven-transmembrane receptor family recently identified in oligodendrocytes. Here we show that both in vitro and in vivo, Edg-2 transcripts are not detected during early stages of oligodendroglial development, but are expressed only in mature oligodendrocytes, shortly before the onset of myelination. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) has been reported to be a ligand of Edg-2 receptor in different cell types. However, in oligodendroglial cultures, LPA had no effect on survival, maturation, or cytoskeleton organization. In myelinating oligodendrocyte-neuron cocultures, LPA did not influence myelinogenesis. In addition, LPA failed to induce Ca2+ mobilization and had no effect on forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation. Phosphorylation of the ERK1/ERK2 MAP kinases was the only response elicited by LPA in oligodendrocytes. Therefore, in contrast to other cell types, in which LPA exerts pleiotropic effects, Edg-2-positive postmitotic oligodendrocytes display a restricted responsiveness to LPA.

Role of polyamines and NMDA receptors in ethanol dependence and withdrawal.

This article represents the proceedings of a symposium at the 2000 ISBRA Meeting in Yokohama, Japan. The chair was John M. Littleton. The presentations were (1) Examination of ethanol spermine and acamprosate actions on native and recombinant NMDA receptors, by David Lovinger; (2) Ethanol inhibition of NMDA neurotoxicity on the polyamine site in cerebellar granule cells, by Sture Liljequist; (3) Alterations in expression of NMDA receptor subunits during ethanol exposure and withdrawal, by Raj Ticku; (4) Alterations in polyamine synthesis and release as a potential mechanism for ethanol dependence and withdrawal, by Izuru Matsumoto; (5) The role of polyamines in neurotoxicity induced by alcohol withdrawal in vitro, by John Littleton; and (6) Agmatine reduces some of the effects of "third trimester" alcohol exposure using a rodent model, by Susan Barron.